Pace Goes No. 1

Orlando Pace is one of only 14 players in the history of the National Football League draft to have gone from being the first overall pick of a draft to earning election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1997 - ORLANDO PACE, T, OHIO STATE (St. Louis Rams)

How the Rams landed the No. 1 pick:

The St. Louis Rams traded their first round pick (six overall), third round pick (67th overall), fourth round pick (102thoverall), and seventh round pick (207th overall) in the 1997 NFL draft to acquire the number one choice from the New York Jets.

Scouting Pace’s college career:

Pace broke into the starting lineup as a freshman at Ohio State and went on to start 33 consecutive games before forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL Draft. The two-time All-American was the first to win two consecutive Lombardi Awards (given to the Nation’s outstanding collegiate lineman). Pace did not allow a quarterback sack in his final two seasons in Columbus.

Rookie Season:

Pace played 13 games in 1997, nine of which were starts at left tackle and played every offensive snap in each of those starts. The three games Pace missed during his rookie campaign was due to a knee injury.

NFL Career highlights:

Pace was the first offensive lineman to be taken with the number one overall pick in 30 years (Ron Yary – 1968). He would go on to be one of the most dominant lineman of his era. HOF Bio>>>